A dispute between Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh and Coroner Timothy Warco over a fatal police shooting in the spring led to a raid on the coroner’s office Tuesday morning.

Warco, who this month was reelected to a ninth term, said four detectives from the DA’s office and four state troopers served a warrant to search his first-floor office in the Washington County Crossroads Center.

The warrant sought police reports and other evidence used in a coroner’s inquest into the April 2 shooting death of Eduardo L. Hoover Jr., according to coroner’s solicitor Timothy Uhrich.

On Oct. 26, following the inquest, Warco found that Hoover’s death was not justified. He recommended that charges of involuntary manslaughter be filed against Mt. Pleasant Township police Officer Tyler Evans.

Warco’s findings countered those made by Walsh a month after the incident, in which he said Evans was justified in the shooting.

Walsh said Hoover had been driving without a license the afternoon of April 2 and almost struck two children in Burgettstown.

Smith Township police officers attempted to stop Hoover and then pursued him at speeds reaching more than 60 mph for 18 miles. Officers from Mt. Pleasant Township and the Washington County sheriff’s office later became involved in the pursuit, Walsh said.

As the pursuit approached the city of Washington, Hoover’s truck became boxed in on Jefferson Avenue, with police in front of him and behind him.

Hoover was ordered out of the truck, but he refused, placed the truck in reverse and rammed the Mt. Pleasant Township officer’s car.

The Smith Township officer fired into the grill area of the truck to try to disable it, but Hoover drove forward, snapping a telephone pole, Walsh said.

Hoover again put the truck in reverse and was headed toward Evans when the officer fired twice, striking Hoover in the head.

Hoover died at the scene. Police later learned that Hoover’s blood alcohol level was 0.27%, or more than three times the legal limit.

Walsh said state police investigated and turned their findings over to the DA’s office. On May 5, the district attorney announced that Evans was justified in using deadly force.

“The officers were presented with facts and circumstances which left them no alternative other than to discharge their service weapon to stop not only the threat to their lives, but the lives of fellow officers and the community,” Walsh said during a news conference on Oct. 27.

“What matters was what the officers thought at the time. And what matters is the officer does not have to wait to get run over by a 5,000-pound truck before he protects himself,” Walsh added.

As part of Warco’s inquest, he reviewed dashboard camera video, video from a nearby convenience store and the state police report issued from the investigation.

Warco said Evans’ statement was contrary to what his bodycam video showed. Evans said he was outside his vehicle when Hoover struck the telephone pole, but video showed he was still in his patrol vehicle.

In the report, Warco also noted that the Smith Township officer chose to try to disable the vehicle instead of shooting at Hoover, while Evans fired through the rear window at Hoover. Warco also noted that Evans’ car was rammed from a distance of nine to 15 feet away.

“While it may be conceivable that an accelerating truck could operate as a deadly weapon, the fact that it was boxed in with little room to maneuver would negate that possibility,” Warco wrote.

Hoover’s escape was preventable, and at the time, Hoover was not committing any forcible felony or in possession of a deadly weapon, Warco said.

After Warco’s report was issued, Walsh said that Hoover was using his 5,000-pound truck as a weapon.

“The onus was on Mr. Hoover to comply with the law. The onus was on Mr. Hoover to pull over,” Walsh said. “The onus first of all was on Mr. Hoover not to drive in the first place because he was not permitted to. The onus was on Mr. Hoover not to drink and drive in the first place. The onus is on Mr. Hoover to obey the laws.”

During that news conference, Walsh criticized Warco for conducting the inquest, saying he overreached his authority.

“I don’t have the time nor the inclination to participate in the coroner’s theatrical nonsense meant for television cameras and political operatives,” Walsh said.

Walsh, who did not return a message seeking comment, questioned why Warco did not conduct his inquest until six months after the incident. He also questioned why Warco didn’t seat a jury for the proceeding and why no new interviews were conducted.

Instead, Walsh said Warco used “an outside Allegheny County lawyer” to present evidence to himself.

That lawyer, Uhrich, now serves as Warco’s solicitor. Uhrich said Wednesday that Warco subpoenaed the officers involved in the incident to testify at the inquest, but Washington County President Judge John DiSalle quashed those subpoenas.

He’s the same judge who, this week, authorized Walsh’s search warrant and ordered that the supporting affidavit be placed under seal.

Before the search warrant was issued, Walsh sent Warco and Uhrich a letter demanding that they return the inquest records, including “police reports, evidence and other items involved in the investigation into this officer-involved shooting.”

The Nov. 21 letter said that the reports Warco had are not public records and that neither the coroner nor any private attorneys working with him are permitted to possess them.

“You are hereby demanded to return all copies of the law enforcement investigative records and any derivative copies and notes which relied in whole or in part on these investigative records, forthwith and no later than 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22,” it said.

In bold print, the letter continued, “Failure to do so may result in criminal penalties as well as statutory civil penalties.”

The application for the search warrant was dated Nov. 27.

According to that document, detectives said they were investigating a charge of tampering with public records or information, dating from Oct. 26 and ongoing.

An inventory of items taken in the search said detectives took file folders, USB drives marked “Eduardo L. Hoover Jr.” and inquest materials.

Uhrich said nothing else was taken.

On Wednesday, Warco said he has conducted 22 inquests in his 33 years in office, including at least four that involved officer-involved shootings. His office sent the findings in the Hoover case to the state Attorney General’s office for review.

“It’s not political for me,” Warco said. “I speak for the dead and their families. I have a responsibility to the decedent, the family and the public to tell them what’s happened.”

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